Aligning device for well grapples



9, 1954 C, A, ANDERSQN Z' LIGNING DEVICE FOR WELL GRPPLES Filed Dec. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0dr/ A. Anderson INVENToR.

45 E BY Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATESy PATENT ALIGNING DEVICE Foa WELL GRAPPLEs Carl A. Anderson, Laverne, Okla., assigner of one-third to Bruce L.l Parker, Pampa, Tex.

Application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 200,512 l 1o claims. (01.-.294-86) This invention relates toA new and usefuliml provements in fishing tools and more particularly relates to means for engaging and urging objects into alignment with the fishing tool so as to be engaged readily thereby.

The primary object ofthis invention is toA position objects that are inclined or laterally disposed to one side of the axis of the bore of a well in alignment with the axis of the bore of the well so as to be readily engaged by fishing tool.A

Another important object of this invention is to provide means for use with rotary type fishing tools, which means will, in response to rotary motion, extend laterally from the axis of rotary motion to engage an object and move the same towards the axis of rotation.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide an aligning device of this character, which may be quickly and easily coupled to various types of fishing tools, and which itself may be eiiicaciously modified to meet various conditions, such as different size cave-in or cavity dimension in which an object may be located.

Yet another important object of this invention 'is to provide a device which includes a shell having means at its lower end to gather in an object so as to be received in the lower end of the shell as the same is lowered, and which shell carries means for securely engaging an object at its upper end, and which shell carries means disposed intermediate the other means for aligning the object with the axis oi the shell upon descent of the latter about the object.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the arcuate wing pivoted to the lower end of the shell, such wing being movable from a retracted position adjacent the periphery oi the shell to an extended position outwardly from the shell, in which extended position the wing serves upon rotation of the shell to guide an object to .a position within the shell.V In addition, the wing is pivoted to the shell in such a manner that rotary motion of the latter causes the wing to move to its extended position by centrifugal force.

Another important feature of the present in vention resides in the lower end of the shell being cut away adjacent the arcuate wing so that an object may readily move to a position within the shell as guided by the wing,

Still another important feature ofv the present invention resides in the transverse Wallin the shell that has a concaved lower. surface anda central opening therethrough for Valigning an object with the central axis of the shell upon detent of the latter about the object.

Yet another important lfeature of the." .pr sent invention resides`intheprovision of object engaging means at .the .upper end of "the shell in axial alignment with the opening. in the transverse wall. l "f' A nal important feature of thepresent invention to be specicallyenumerated herein resides in the coupling member that serves a two-fold function of .providing a connection between the aligning device and the lower en d of the Istring of tools that normally support the conventional fishing tool, and also which provides a housing for the object engaging means used in the present invention, it being noted .that the vobject engaging means are carried bythe coupling member s' that upon simply changing'coupling members having different types .of.; object engaging means, the same aligning device fcan be used. t "These, 'togethnwith'various ancillary objects and features of the. invention which will become apparentY as the following description proceeds, are `attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:V .l

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention, showing the'samein use at the bottom of a welliolf. aligning a section o fpipe, and 'being carried at'thelower end of a'string of tools;

Figure 2 is another side elevational view similar to Figure 1; however, this view showing the Vsection-of pipe as having been movedto` a position in alignment with the central axis of the shell; -V

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional View of the' present invention vtaken upon an enlarged scale, this view being taken on theplane of the broken section line 3j3 of Figure 5; i Figures 4 and5 are both horizontal l'sectional vviews taken; on'4 the plane of the section line 5-5 in Figure 3,.Figure 4 showing the .wings Ain their retracted jposition's, and Eigure 5 showing' l,the wings in their extended 'positions for engaging an object; Figure 6 shows a modied form of the invention differing from the' form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-45 by having afsin'gl'e wingfconstruction; and, i Figure 'lis a detail vertical sectional view fof a modified form of object. engaging means from those shown in Figure f3.

-`r'?.eference is no wAmade-mrore specifically tothe accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate vsimilar parts V.throughoutthe` various views.v lWith. attention first directed to the form er. tha-.invention illustrated. in rigures l-.a there is designated generally at I6 the bore of a well, at the lower end of which there is an enlarged cavity I2 in which is disposed for illustrative purposes an elongated object I4 that is desired to be removed from the well. For removing the object I4 from the well, there is suitably secured to the lower end of a string of tools I6 a device designated rgenerallyfat I 8 that.. forms theJ subject matter ofi-thel present invention.

The device I8 comprises a tubular shell 20 having pivoted to its lower end a pair of wings'22. Each of the wings 22 is pivoted to the shell-20 by means of a pair of bosses122'=. andl24i formed on the innerside of the shell, such-.b osseshaving aligned apertures 26 therethrough. 1.4.-..'slot-'28is provided in the shell 20 `which extends between the bosses 22' and 24, in which'rsloti28 isvidispose'd and enlarged portion 30 of the wing having..an aperture 32 extending therethrough. A pivot pin 34 extendsthrough theiapertures 26 and 32, and

is removably'retained inil the"apertures'-'-by` means of '1a "counter: pin 36 extending through" the boss `22 -iandthe pin '34,` the-arrangement" being such thatt the*V wings 22 mayl be readily removedi'from the shell 20 for replacementwhen wornporv for repiacementbywingsofidiierentsizeswhen'needed "for faparticular job. ItA willibe noted thatE the wings 22 are jpivoted" to" the shell 20 about' axes -that'iare.substantiallytangential tothe shell-and which axes are? inclined' both; to" the vertical and tothehorizontal plane, so that the arcuate outer vend portions "38 ofthe `wingsf22 extend down- `wardlyffromithepivotal'connection of the wings to :the `shell. :It `will'rbe"further'notedthat the Aarrangement `of thefwings and'thet shell. is YKsuch that upon rotation of' the shell-"about its :longitudinal -axis lwill-tend .toiurgethe wings22 ifrom theretracted position,` Vshown in Figure, to the extendedzpositiom shown in Figure" 5.

:As `it `will 'be".appreciated;the'wings" 22-are" for the `purpose of extending 'outwardly "from the shell, A'engaging'.an'object such 1 as that indicated at I4"andforfdirecting the latter into the interior of`A thel shell20' uponrotation 'ofthe'V latter in 1 a clockwise..direction.as shown in Figure.5. Iniorderztoffacilitatethe entry r'fthe object' I4 into 'the interior of"theshellnfthe.lower'edgeof the latter' is .cut away `as at l"'40 4rc'itationally in advanceof thezwingsn.

" Whilethe wings22fserve thegpurpose4 of `moving an object` so `that r its .upper end is received within -thecshe'll T20.' it' is .desiredi thatthe object I4 "be aligned" wthithe taxis :of the Shell" 20, 'and for this kpurpcsea'li'ginngzmeans is vprovidedfwhich 'takes' the form of Va transverse `*wall -"42 .secured within `the-shell 120 whichhasva concaved.. lower surface Aandra `central.xaligning.` opening 44; itl being .readily :apparent: that npon lowering l.of the ShellfZU about an elongatedrobject,. such as; that indicatedat I.4,the2.npper en'd.;f the :.obect. [4 will :engage the concaveli 'J lower fl surface sof ".the vvwall 42 so" as to 'be moved" to `a vposition tojpass through vthe .central .opening 44, thereby `being aligned with the axist. the shell120.

Threaded asl at "46 Vupon-tithe upperend ofthe pered tubular member 54 integral with the coupling member 48, which has disposed therein a pair of complementary slip jaws 56 having serrated inner surfaces. It will be understood that when an object such as that indicated at I4 is extended upwardly through the tubular member 54, the jaws 56 will rise and spread apart to receiver-the object-I4 therebetween;.howeve1', lowfering of .theobject I4 willbe prevented by the jaws 56 moving downwardly to wedge tightly athereabout to grip the same.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6,

fthefshelltand"coupling member are shown as being..of .integralconstruction that is designated generally atl-'58. In addition, this form of the invention utilizes a single arcuate wing 60 that is lpivc'itally-connectedto the combined shell and couplingl member construction 58 as at 62. Since this modified form ofthe invention utilizes a single wing, this construction also uses only a single cutoutrportony 64, it being noted thatthe cutout portion`64'may be much larger than that `shown inthe'other form of the invention herein `beforedescribedfor the reason that the structural strength of the device is not impaired because 'onlyl one wing is employed around the lower perpheryof Vthe shell, and since it is desirable that the cutout` portion be as large as possible to 'facilitate the entry of the'object to the interior of the shell.

In Figure 7, there is illustrated a modied form ofthe object engaging means. In this embodiment, the lower end of' the string of tools I6 is threaded to "extend downwardly within the interiorfof the'couplingmember 48, and is provided with an internally threaded socket at its lower endfor receiving the threaded` upper end thread- `ing'idie68. The threading die68 is disposed in valignment with the'axis of the Ashell 20, and is conical'inshape so'as to'facilitate the entry of the"threading member intothe upper end'of an object I4 should the latter be. hollow. It will be understoodthat` upon'rotation of the device'I'O, the^threading member 68 will becomeY firmly engaged with' anY object.vl I4' soA as to permit the `with- YAclrawaloi"the'latterifrom the well with the de- `While the preferred Ymaterial of construction 'off the; present invention is steel, it will be understood that" the'same maybe 'formed of any suitablematerial. `Inasmuch as' the object engaging meansarecarried' by the'couplingv member 48, it Awill be evident thatsince the coupling member i48`isidetachablefrom the shell 20, the wings 22, andthetransversewall 4,2, that these latter mentione'd elements/maybe used with various .cou-

plingmembersrand'the object engaging means carried vthereby sonas to.increase theuse of the .-Fromtheioregoing, .the construction and op- -erationiofzthe 'device willlbe readily understood 'fand furtherexplanation is believed to beunnecessary. ."However, Asince numerous modications and-changes will readilyoccurto thosefskilled in the art, iti is'not desired to limit the inventionto theexactconstruction shown .and described, and -accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents'may'be resorted to, falling within the scope .of the appended claims.

'JIHavingdescribed the invention, what is claimed astinew is:

1.".[n a; wellshing tool, a vertical tubularshell moved from' thewellfanarcuate wing having an Il upper inner end pivoted to shell adjacent the lower end of the shell and about a pivot that is substantially tangential to the shell and at an inclined angle to the longitudinal axis of the shell,

said wing being swingable from a retracted po sition in which the concave side of the wing faces towards the shell and in which position the wing is to be disposed when the shell is lowered into the well to an extended position extending a substantial distance laterally from the periphery of the tubular shell, the lower end of the shell being cut away on one side adjacent the wing, the center of mass of said wing being so disposed that rotation of the shell about its longitudinal axis urges the wing towards its extended position by centrifugal force, said shell having a slot therein accommodating the inner end of said wing, and said pivot being located within the interior of said shell, and said wing being pivoted to the shell about an axis inclined to the horizontal plane.

2. In a well fishing tool, a tubular shell adapted to be inserted in a well and lowered to a position adjacent an object to be removed from the Well, means pivoted to shell adjacent the lower end of the latter for engaging and directing an object into the lower' end of the shell upon axial rotation of the latter, the pivot for means being substantially tangential to the shell and inclined relative to the longitudinal axis oi the shell, a transverse wall in said shell above said means, said transverse wall having a concaved lower surface merging with the inner periphery of said shell and a central aligning opening therethrough.

3. In a well fishing tool, a tubular shell adapted to be inserted in a well and lowered to a position adjacent an object to be removed from the well, means pivoted to shell adjacent the lower end of the latter and about an axis that is substantially tangential to the shell and at an inclined angle to the longitudinal axis of the shell for engaging and directing an object into the lower end of the shell upon axial rotation of the latter, a transverse wall in said shell above said means, said transverse wall having a concaved lower surface merging with the inner periphery7 of said shell and a central aligning opening therethrough, and means carried at the upper end of the shell in axial alignment with the aligning opening for engaging an object extending upwardly through i* said aligning opening.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said last means comprises a depending, externally threaded member.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein said last means comprises a depending, externally threaded conical member.

6. The combination of claim 3, wherein said last means comprises a pair of jaws for gripping the upper end of an object.

7. The combination of claim 3, wherein said last means comprises a depending tapered tubular member, and a pair of complementary slip jaws disposed in said tubular member.

8. In a well shing tool, a tubular shell adapted to be inserted in a well and lowered to a position adjacent an object to be removed from the well, means pivoted to shell adjacent the lower end of the latter for engaging and directing an object into the lower end of the shell upon axial rotation of the latter, a transverse wall in said shell above said means, said transverse wall having a concaved lower surface merging with the inner periphery of said shell and a central aligning open ing therethrough, said means including a pair of spaced bosses on said shell having aligned apertures, said shell having a slot extending between the bosses, an arcuate wing having an upper inner end disposed in said slot with an aperture therethrough, a pivot pin removably extending through all of said apertures, and releasable means holding said pin in said apertures,

9. In a well fishing tool, a tubular shell adapted to be inserted in a well and lowered to a position adjacent an object to be removed from the well, means pivoted to shell adjacent the lower end of the latter and about axis that is substantially tangential to the shell and at an inclined angle to the longitudinal axis of the shell for engaging and directing an object into the lower end of the shell upon axial rotation of the latter, a transverse wall in said shell above said means, said transverse wall having a concaved lower surface merging with the inner periphery of said shell and a central aligning opening therethrough, a coupling having an enlarged lower end in releasable engagement with the upper end of the shell and a reduced upper end adapted to secure to the lower end of a string of tools, and means disposed in the coupling in axial alignment with the aligning opening for engaging an object extending upwardly through the opening.

10. In a well shing tool, a tubular shell adapted to be inserted in a well and lowered to a position adjacent an object to be removed from the well, means pivoted to shell about an axis substantially tangential to the shell and at an inclined angle relative to the shell adjacent the lower end of the latter for engaging and directing an object into the lower end of the shell upon axial rotation of the latter, and means carried at the upper end of the shell in axial alignment therewith for engaging and guiding an object extending upwardly in the shell upon rotation of the latter.

CARL A. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,696,378 Brauer Dec. 25, 1928 1,718,771 Baker June 25, 1929 1,738,819 Cormier Dec. 10, 1929 1,738,937 Baker Dec. 10, 1929 1,766,368 Wigle June 24, 1930 1,779,792 Yungling Oct. 28, 1930 1,800,490 Young Apr. 14, 1931 

